Wire-tying tool having clutch mechanism

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a wire-tying tool having clutch mechanism which includes a housing unit, an active member, a passive member, a resilient member and a clamping gadget. The housing unit includes an outer tube and an inner tube. The outer tube and the inner tube can be mutually screw-thread-coupled, and make a relative stretch to each other. The active member and the passive member are positioned inside the housing unit on a movable and rotating status. One end of said active member has a first joint unit. Another end has a first disengagement face. One end of passive member has a second joint unit extending to the outside. Another end has a second disengagement face. When the first disengagement face closely contacts the second disengagement face, the active member and the passive member can make synchronic rotation. When the first disengagement face is apart from the second disengagement face, the active member and the passive member cannot make synchronic rotation. The resilient member is used to provide an elastic force which forces the first disengagement face and the second disengagement face to contact each other. The clamping gadget can be coupled to the second joint unit, and can also clamp one roll of iron wire for tying.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an iron wire-tying tool having clutch mechanism, especially refers to an iron wire-tying tool whose torsion is adjustable depending on the diameter of the iron wire so as to avoid wrenching off the wire.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A conventional wire-tying tool is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 1,436,637, which is so arranged that as soon as the operator releases the tension, the hook which engages the loop on the end or the wire tie, automatically disengages therefrom.

Another conventional wire tying tool is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,420,280, whose major structure is to insert steel balls 21 into the spiral accommodating groove 26 of the drawbar 13. When the drawbar is pulled, the outer pipe 10 will rotate so that the clip 3 installed on the outer pipe 10 will clamp the iron wire, and wind it. However, this design doesn't have a disengagement function to avoid excess torque. When a thinner iron wire is tightly twisted, it is very easy for the thinner iron wire to be wrenched off. Besides, it is a manual operation which requires strenuous effort, and is inconvenient.

There is another often used iron wire tying tool, such as U.S. Pat. No. 3,391,715, which has a hook to clamp an iron wire. The hook is directly driven by a power tool. By means of the driving force of power tool, the hook rotates to wind the iron wire till the iron wire is tightly twisted. Because this design doesn't have a disengagement function to avoid excess torque force, it is easier to wrench off thinner wire by power driving.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main purpose of present invention is to provide an iron wire tying tool with torque adjustable to avoid wrenching off an iron wire. In order to achieve the mentioned object, the present invention provides the following technique and the measure which include a housing unit, an active member, a passive member, a resilient member and a clamping gadget, wherein the housing unit is used to accommodate the active member and the passive member.

The housing unit comprises an outer tube and an inner tube. The outer tube has a first closure end and a first open end. The first closure end of the outer tube has a first thru-hole. For the outer tube, its inner wall close to the first open end has screw threads. The inner tube has a second closure end and a second open end. Besides, the second closure end of the inner tube has a second thru-hole. For this inner tube, its outer wall close to the open end has screw threads. The inner tube is screw-thread-coupled to the outer tube. The outer tube can make relative rotation to the inner tube so as to increase or reduce the length of the housing unit. One end of the active member has a first joint unit extending to the first thru-hole. The end face of another end forms a first disengagement face. The first joint unit is coupled to a driving member of a hand tool or a power tool so that the hand tool or the power tool can drive the active member to make rotation. One end of the passive member has a second joint unit going through the second thru-hole. Another end has a second disengagement face. When the first disengagement face contacts the second disengagement face, the active member can drive the passive member to make rotation. On the contrary, when the first disengagement face and the second disengagement are parted, the active member can not drive the passive member. A resilient member is installed inside the housing unit, and provides an elastic force to push the first disengagement face contact the second disengagement face. A clamping gadget is coupled to the second joint unit, and can clamp an iron wire for tying.

Thus, by means of the elastic force provided by the resilient member, the first and the second disengagement faces can mutually contact each other. The active member driven by the driving member can drive the passive member to make synchronic rotation, and also make the clamping gadget to rotate and wind an iron wire. When the iron wire is tightly twisted, if the axial component force of the reacting torque is larger than the fractional and combining force between the first disengagement face and the second disengagement face, the active member will drive the passive member to make relative rotation, and cannot make synchronic rotation. This design prevents the iron wire from being wrench off under ceaseless twisting made by the passive member and the claming gadget.

Furthermore, the user can relatively turn the outer tube and the inner tube to adjust the length of the housing unit. By means of this, the elastic force of the resilient member can be adjusted. Thus, the fractional and combining force between the first disengagement face and the second disengagement can be adjusted. Therefore, the user can adjust the fractional and combining force depending on the diameter of the iron wire, and prevents the iron wire from being wrench off due to excess driving force.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a 3D exploded drawing of the first example of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial cross sectional view of 3D assembly drawing of the first example of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a 3D drawing of the first example showing the appearance of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a front view of the first example of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view as seen from plane A-A of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a schematic drawing showing the action of the first example of the invention;

FIG. 7 is a schematic drawing showing the action of adjusting the torque of the first example of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a schematic drawing showing how the power tool is used for driving;

FIG. 9 is a 3D exploded drawing of the second example of the invention;

FIG. 10 is a 3D exploded drawing of the third example of the invention;

FIG. 11 is a partial cross sectional view of the 3D assembly drawing of the third example of the invention;

FIG. 12 is a 3D exploded drawing of the fourth example of the invention;

FIG. 13 is a cross sectional view of the assembly drawing of the fourth example of the invention;

FIG. 14 is a 3D exploded drawing of the fifth example of the invention;

FIG. 15 is a cross sectional view of the assembly drawing of the fifth example of the invention;

FIG. is a 3D drawing of the appearance of the sixth example of the invention;

FIG. 17 is a 3D drawing of the appearance of the seventh example of the invention;

FIG. 18 is a 3D drawing of the appearance of the eighth example of the invention;

FIG. 19 is a 3D exploded drawing of the appearance of the ninth example of the invention;

FIG. 20 is a 3D exploded drawing of the ninth example of the invention showing the clamping gadget;

FIG. 21 is a 3D assembly drawing of the ninth example of the invention showing the clamping gadget;

FIG. 22 is a top view of the ninth example of the invention showing the clamping gadget;

FIG. 23 is a cross sectional view as seen from plane A-A of FIG. 22;

FIG. 24 shows a clamping action of the clamping gadget of the ninth example; and

FIG. 25 shows a clamping action for the claming gadget of the ninth example.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT I. The Basic Character of the Present Invention

The present invention features a basic technology which is able to set a disengagement function as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 8. The basic example of this invention includes an active member 30 to be coupled to a driving member 71, a passive member 40 which can be parted from the active member 30, a clutch mechanism which controls synchronic rotation between the active member 30 and the passive member 40, a clamping gadget 60 as well as a housing unit 1 which accommodates the active member 30 and the passive member 40. The clamping gadget 60 coupled to the passive member 40 includes a clamping unit for clamping and twisting an iron wire. When the passive member 40 receives a reacting force of the iron wire torque through the clamping gadget 60, if the reacting force is larger than a setting value, the clutch mechanism will force the active member 30 and the passive member 40 to make asynchronous rotation. It prevents the active member from applying a continuous force to the iron wire, or the iron wire would be wrenched off.

II. Preferred Embodiment of the Clutch Mechanism of the Present Invention

Referring to FIG. 1 through FIG. 8, an embodiment of the clutch mechanism of the present invention is its housing unit 1 which comprises an outer tube 10 and an inner tube 20 to be screw-thread-coupled to each other. The interior of the outer tube 10 has a first accommodating groove 11. At one end of the outer tube 10, there is a first closure end 100, and at another end there is a first open end 101. There is a first thru-hole 13 at the center of the first closure end 100. For the first accommodating groove 11, on its inner wall close to the first open end 101, there are screw threads 12. For the inner tube 20, at one end there is a second closure end 200, and at another end there is a second open end 201. There is a second thru-hole 23 at the center of the second closure end 200. For the second accommodating groove 21, on the outer wall close to the second open end 201 of the inner tube 20, there are screw threads 22 which can match the screw threads 12. The second opening end 201 of the inner tube 20 passes the first open end 101 of the outer tube 10, and enters the first accommodating groove 11. The both screw threads 22/12 perfectly match each other thereto.

The active member 30 is in a column shape. Its first end is at one end, and the second end is at another end. The first end with a first joint unit extends to the first thru-hole 13. The end face of the second end is a first disengagement face 300 surrounded with a first raised unit 31. The first joint unit is a groove 33 whose cross section is a polygon (here a quadrangle) which can be coupled to a polygonal driving member 71 (here a quadrangular column) of a driving tool 70. On the first disengagement face 300, there are slots 32 arranged in daisy wheel shape. The cross section of each slot 32 is in V-shape.

The passive member 40 is in a column shape. Its first end is at one end, and its second end is at another end. Its first end has a second joint unit which goes through the second thru-hole 23 to the outside. The end face of the second end is a second disengagement face 400 opposite to the first disengagement face 300. The second disengagement face 400 is surrounded by a second raise unit 41. The second joint unit in FIG. 1 is a polygonal column 43. On the second disengagement face 400 there are teeth 42 arranged in circular array with respect to its central axial line. Each tooth 42 is in V shape viewed by its cross-section which can be coupled to its corresponding slot 32.

The resilient member 50 sleeves over the active member 30. One end of the resilient member 50 pushes the active member 30, and another end of the resilient member 50 pushes the housing unit 1 so as to produce an elastic force. The elastic force will make the slots 32 on the first disengagement face 300 of the active member 30 engage the teeth 42 on the second disengagement face 400 of the passive member 40. In this figure, there is a pushing member 51 added between the resilient member 50 and the housing unit 1 so that the shorter resilient member 50 can produce an effective elastic force between the housing unit 1 and the active member 30.

At one end of the clamping gadget 60 there is a third joint unit. At another end there is a hooking unit 61 to hook iron wire. The cross section of the third joint unit is a polygonal groove 62 which the polygonal column 43 of the passive member 40 can be coupled to.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, the slots 32 of the active member 30 and the teeth 42 of the passive member 40 engage each other to form an effective frictional and combining force. The active member 30 can drive the passive member 40 to make synchronic rotation, and further drive the clamping gadget 60 to wind an iron wire as FIG. 5 shown. When the tying torque applied to the iron wire is larger than the frictional and combining force between the first disengagement face 300 and the second disengagement face 400 as FIG. 6 shown, the resilient member 50 will be compressed. At the same time the teeth 42 will be parted from the slots 32. Then, the active member 30 and the passive member 40 will produce relative rotation. The passive member 40 will not drive the clamping gadget 60 to wind iron wire any more. Thus, the iron wire can avoid being wrenched off. Of course, the slots 32 of the first disengagement face 300 and the teeth 42 of the second disengagement face 400 can be changed their relative positions to get the same disengagement effect. The structure of this example is not illustrated here.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 7, when the outer tube 10 and the inner tube make relative rotation, the two sets of the screw threads 12/22 enable the outer tube 10 to move back and forth toward the inner tube 20, and further achieve the object of adjusting the length of the housing unit 1 and the elastic force of the resilient member 50.

Please compare the status between FIGS. 5 and 7. As FIG. 7 shown, when the length of the housing unit is relatively shortened, the resilient member 50 will be relatively shortened on a compressed status. It can increase the frictional and combining force between the first disengagement face 300 and the second disengagement face 400. Thus, the active member 30 and the passive member 40 can keep synchronic rotation to wind thicker iron wire. On the other hand as FIG. 5 shown, it can wind thinner iron wire.

As FIG. 9 shown, it is another example of the first joint unit of the active member 30. It can be a polygonal column 330 which fits an open end wrench or a box wrench.

Referring to FIGS. 10 and 11, it is another example of the invention. The first disengagement face and the second disengagement face have a plurality of the first grooves 35 and the second grooves 45 arranged in circular array with respect to its central axial line respectively. Between each first groove 35 and its corresponding second groove 45, there is a ball 80 between the two grooves 35/45. When the component of the radical force of the reacting torque produced by twisting iron wire is less than the pressing force of the resilient member 50, the balls 80 can be used as an action medium linked to the active member 30 and the passive member 40. When the radical force of the reacting torque produced by twisting iron wire is larger than the pressing force of the resilient member 50, the balls 80 will be parted from the first grooves 35 or the second grooves 45 so that the active member 30 makes a relative rotation to the passive member 40, and is unable to twist the iron wire.

Referring to FIGS. 12 and 13, the active member 30 of the present invention includes a sleeve 301 coupled to a bar unit 34 without interaction. The first raised unit 31 is at one end of the sleeve 301. The first joint unit 33 is at one end of the bar unit 34. The bar unit 34 has a polygonal column 341. The sleeve 301 has a polygonal guiding thru-hole 302 to fit the column 341. The depth of the guiding thru-hole 302 is longer than the length of the column 341. The column 341 is coupled to the guiding thru-hole 302.

Referring to FIGS. 14 and 15, it is the fifth example of the present invention. The two ends of the resilient member 50 are between the passive member 40 and the inner tube 20. One end of the resilient member 50 pushes the second raised unit 41, and another end pushes the inner side of the second closure end 200 of the second accommodating groove 21.

Referring to FIG. 16 of the present invention, an iron wire gauge 14 can be installed on the outer wall of the housing unit 1. This iron wire gauge has several semi-annular measuring grooves 141 of different diameters to measure the size of iron wire. The outer wall of the inner tube 20 is marked with a torque graduation ruler 24. When the outer tube 10 makes a relative move toward the inner tube 20, the edge of the first opening end 201 of the outer tube 10 points at one figure on the torque graduation ruler 24. This figure indicates the maximum torque value for twisting iron wire.

III. The Embodiment of the Clamping Gadget of Present Invention

As FIG. 1 shown, the clamping unit 61 is a hook which is used to hook the iron wire for tying.

As FIG. 17 shown, the clamping unit 61 comprises a bar unit 611 and a screw-thread-coupling member 612. The bar unit 611 has a plurality of thru-holes 613 which an iron wire can go through. The screw-thread-coupling member 612 is used to compress and secure an iron wire.

As FIG. 18 shown, the claming unit 61 is in a pliers structure which is used to clamp an iron wire.

As FIG. 19-25 shown, the clamping unit 61 comprises a base bar 63, a fixed base 64 to secure the base bar 63, a pivot 69 at the crossing point of the fixed pliers arm 65 and the movable pliers arm 66, a slide 67 sleeving over the base bar 63 as well as a spring 68 which provides the base bar 63 and the slide 67 with an elastic force. The fixed base 64 has a raised edge 641. The two ends of the spring 68 push the raised edge 641 and the wall 671 of the slide 67. The movable pliers arm 66 is coupled to the fixed pliers arm 65 by means of a pivot 69. One end of the fixed pliers arm 65 is secured to the fixed base 64. One end of the movable pliers arm 66 has a hook 661. When the front end of the fixed pliers arm 65 and the front end of the movable pliers arm 66 are combined to clamp an iron wire, the operator can push the slide 67 to allow the locking brim 670 to lock the hook 661.

Referring to FIG. 25, when the hook 661 is locked by the locking brim 670, the spring 68 is in a compressed status. When the movable pliers arm 66 clamps an iron wire, a reacting force will be produced. It is natural that the reacting force will force the hook 661 to rub and secure the locking brim 670. Because the frictional force between the both is larger than the elastic force of the spring 68, the spring 68 will not push the slide 67 away. The movable pliers arm 66 and the fixed pliers arm 65 will firmly clamp the iron wire. After the wire tying is completed, the operator may slightly press the movable pliers arm 66 toward the base bar 63 so that the elastic force of the spring 68 is larger than the fictional force between the hook 661 and the locking brim 670. When the spring 68 pushes the slide 67, the locking brim 670 will not lock the hook 661. The front end of the movable pliers arm 66 and the front end the fixed pliers arm 65 can be opened to release the iron wire.

While we have shown and described the embodiment in accordance with the present invention, it should be clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. 

1. A wire-tying tool having clutch mechanism comprising: a housing unit including an outer tube and an inner tube, both of which can make relative rotation and move, said outer tube having a first open end and a first closure end with a first thru-hole at its center, the inner wall of the outer tube defined screw threads thereon, said inner tube having a second open end and a second closure end with a second thru-hole at its center, the outer wall of said inner tube defined screw threads thereon, said outer tube and said inner tube screw-thread-coupled to each other; an active member positioned inside said housing unit and with a first end at one end and a second end at another end, a first joint unit formed by an extension of said first end of said active member and facing said first thru-hole of said outer tube, said second end with a first disengagement face, said first joint unit coupled to a driving member of a hand tool or a power tool; a passive member positioned inside said housing unit, and with a first end at one end and a second end at another end, a second joint unit formed by an extension of said first end of said passive member, and going through said second thru-hole, said second end with a second disengagement face; a resilient member mounted inside said housing unit, its elastic force providing a frictional and combining force between said first disengagement face and said second disengagement face; and a clamping gadget whose one end has a clamping unit for clamping a wire, and another end has a third joint unit used to couple with said second joint unit of said passive member; when said first disengagement face and said second disengagement face of said active member closely contact each other to maintain a sufficient fictional and combining force, said active member and said passive member can make synchronic rotation, and when said frictional and combining force is smaller than the torque of the reacting force produced by said clamping gadget when said clamping gadget twists the iron wire, said active member and said passive member cannot make synchronic rotation.
 2. The wire-tying tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein the interior of said outer tube has a first accommodating groove to accommodate said active member.
 3. The wire-tying tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein the interior of said inner tube has a second accommodating grove to accommodate said passive member.
 4. The wire-tying tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second end of said active member is surrounded with a first raised unit.
 5. The wire-tying tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cross section of said first joint unit is a polygonal groove, and said driving member is a matchable polygonal column.
 6. The wire-tying tool as claimed in claim 5, wherein the cross section of said groove is a quadrangle, and said driving member is a quadrangular column.
 7. The wire-tying tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second end of said passive member is surrounded with a second raised unit.
 8. The wire-tying tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second joint unit is a polygonal column.
 9. The wire-tying tool as claimed in claim 8, wherein said third joint unit of said clamping gadget is said second groove whose cross section is a polygon hereto, and said polygonal column can be coupled to said second groove.
 10. The wire-tying tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein said active member is sleeved over by said resilient member and a pushing member, one end of said pushing member contacts said outer tube, said second end of said active member is surrounded with a first raised unit while another end pushes another end of said pushing member.
 11. The wire-tying tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second end of said passive member is surrounded with a second raised unit, said resilient member sleeves over said passive member, and one end pushes said second raised unit while another end pushes said closure end of said inner tube.
 12. The wire-tying tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first disengagement face has a plurality of slots arranged in daisy wheel shape, said second disengagement face has a plurality of teeth arranged in daisy wheel shape, the shape of said slot matches said tooth, each said tooth can be coupled to the corresponding groove.
 13. The wire-tying tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first disengagement face has a plurality of teeth arranged in circular array with respect to its central axial line, said second disengagement face has a plurality of slots arranged in circular array with respect to its central axial line, the shapes of said slots matches the shapes of said teeth, each said tooth can be coupled to the corresponding slot.
 14. The wire-tying tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein said claiming unit of said claming gadget is a hook which is able to hook said wire.
 15. The wire-tying tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein said joint unit is a polygonal column.
 16. The wire-tying tying tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first disengagement face has a plurality of first slots arranged in circular array with respect to its central axial line, said second disengagement face has a plurality of second slots arranged in circular array with respect to its central axial line, a ball is placed between said first groove and its corresponding said second groove.
 17. The wire-tying tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein said passive member includes a sleeve and a bar unit which are coupled to each other, and can make synchronic rotation, said disengagement face of the passive member is defined at one end of said sleeve, said first joint unit is provided at one end of said bar unit.
 18. The wire-tying tool as claimed in claim 17, wherein said bar unit is a polygonal column, said sleeve has a polygonal guiding hole to match said polygonal column, the depth of said guiding hole is deeper than the length of said column, and said guiding hole is coupled to said column.
 19. The wire-tying tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein an iron wire gauge is mounted on said outer tube, said iron wire gauge has a plurality of measuring grooves with different diameters.
 20. The wire-tying tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outer wall of said inner tube is marked with a torque-graduated ruler, the edge of said open end of said outer tube aligns the torque-graduated ruler.
 21. The wire-tying tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein said clamping unit includes a bar unit and a screw-thread-coupling member, said bar unit has a plurality of thru-holes where said wire can go through, the end of said screw-thread-coupling member is screw-thread-coupled to said thru-hole of said bar unit to compress said iron wire.
 22. The wire-tying tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein said clamping unit is a pliers structure which can clam said iron wire.
 23. The wire-tying tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein said claiming unit includes a base bar and a fixed base which is secured to said base bar, a fixed pliers arm and a movable pliers arm which are intercrossed and pivot-coupled to each other, a slide is sleeved over said base bar, said movable pliers arm and the front end of said fixed pliers arm can be combined to clamp said wire, said movable pliers arm has a hook, said slide has a locking brim, when said movable pliers arm and said fixed pliers arm clamp said wire, said slide can move along said base bar, and said slide uses its locking brim to lock said hook, so that said movable pliers arm and said fixed pliers arm are limited in a combing status. 